The Irish standard., 1887-11-19
GLADSTONE AT HOME.
De.rription of a visit to the <:t,rand ~:


| aIan s. I Prosperous Esta.o.
II to-day visited the castle Of the Hon.
William g. Gladstone, where with MS
family ne seems to be enjoying the
solid comforts Of home life, aud ;,ln
fuzzy confirmed in the impression
which l had previously formed Of him,
that he is one Of the grandest characters
of the age, and for force of manly
character doubt it his equal can be
found in England. All honorary titles
rendered him he rejects, preferring the
plain, simple name Of William r. Glad
stone. His castle, the only appropriate
name for his present home, was built
! in the year 1852, and is constructed of
solid granite. iron and masonry, and to
the eye, as one approaches it. is mas
sive and imposing, its angles, mnarets
and towers giving it a magnificent ap-
pearance, and at Queens Ferry rail-
krpad station, mile and !, half distant,
Its highest tower is plainly visible
above the tops OF the lofty oaks and
elms surrounding it. The extensive
grounds around the castle are, to say the
least, charming and delightful to view,
and the venerable trees so gianr-like and
almost dehantin their stateliness, serve
to render the whole scene one Of SUI
perb grandeur and beauty. just across
a beautiful ravine (and within the
castle grounds)-distant hundred
yards Or more from the structure now
occupied by the Gladstone family
stands an old castle erected in the
eleventh century, and on an elevation
Of ground steep Of ascent us to rem
der the approach to the base extremely
difficult. On entering tile maiu tower
one follows up a winGing staircase
leading some forty feet to a small room
in the top--with but one very narrow
window-1hese stairs are SO far pre-
served as to enable one to make the
ascent without danger, apparently
The castle wall is in wonderful state
of preservation considering its great
age. In the second story is a narrow
opening, to afford all opportunity to
observe the enemy, if in sight, and 10
let the portcullis fall if by amy means
the enemy had gained an entrance
through the gate into the grounds, so
as to confront the tower entrance,
which is q wide door Or opening, to be
closed instantly by dropping the port
cul!s-composed of solid iron. The
dungeon down under the castle
lis u most hideous looking place.
and with its subterranean passages. re-
se,nbling the mouth of an old fash
toned brick oyeD--together with the
trap door openings and holes in the
w,ll-t)le narrow passage ways, lead
ing into darkness, the various hooks
and corners; also it's Gle waited position,
give enc the impression that stot1ning
that castle in the day of its strength
would at least have been labor lost.
The Gladstone est;tte--connected with
the home, consists OF seven thousand
acres, and brings net yearly income
Of 800, 600. He has also an estate in
$ ot|and netting him $40, 600 yearly.
aud receives annual pensions of $l0,-
900. These items are simply named as
81 fractional part Of his income to sat-
isfy his ardent friends that he is in no
immediate danger Of suffering for the
necessaries of life. As to his family,
he has four sons aud three daughters;
the youngest is thirty-nine Years of
age, and unmarried. In closing this
hastily written letter it is q pleasure
for me TO say that in conversing freely
with several Of his ineighbors, who are
his tenants, they with one accord pro-
nounce Mr. Gladstone their true friend.
Isaac Gutli7s, aa Chicago Inter Ocean.
COSTUMES iN COREA.